Astro City: Difference between revisions

File:Astro City.jpg

Cover of Astro City: A Visitor's Guide, painted by Alex Ross.

Kurt Busiek's Astro City is a comic book series centered around a fictional American city of that name. Created and written by Kurt Busiek, the series is illustrated by Brent Anderson with character designs and painted covers by Alex Ross. The first series debuted in August 1995 published by Image Comics, and since then has been published sporadically (due to Busiek's health problems) by Homage Comics (now part of Wildstorm Signature Series).

The newest entry in the saga, The Dark Ages, began in April 2004, with the remainder of the issues to be published in mid- to late 2005.

Overview

Astro City exists in a world where superheroes have existed since at least the 19th century: the first public hero, Air Ace, appeared during World War I. Busiek has crafted a complex world with a huge cast of characters, many of whom have extensive backstories sketched out which are revealed as the series progresses. Some characters somewhat resemble characters from DC Comics or Marvel Comics universes, though the link tends to be inspirational only.

The series is an anthology that focuses on different characters living within Astro City and the stories are usually narrated from a first person perspective from the story's protagonist. Some issues of the series are one- or two-part stories, while others run as many as six issues in an extended arc.

The essential hook of Astro City is that it explores the reactions that people - both ordinary people and the heroes and villains themselves - have to living in their world. For example, in the first story, the character Samaritan (who resembles Superman) reflects on his life during a typical day, in which he spends almost all of his waking hours flying around the world to help people, and never has any time to enjoy the sheer physical sensation of flight. Other stories involve a date between two high-profile heroes, the initiation of a "kid sidekick" hero, the efforts of a reformed supervillain to find a life outside of prison, a superhero being driven away from Earth by his "love's" attempts to expose him, and the life of an innocent bystander in the days after having been held hostage by a supervillain.

Characters

The world of Astro City has several heroes and villains in the cast, as well as normal, everyday civilians as well. Some of these include the following:

Heroes

• Air Ace — a flying hero active in the wake of World War I, considered Astro City's first "real" superhero. Based on Airboy.
• The All-American — a hero of the 1940s and 1950s who wore stylized football gear. Retired in 1959. Based on Captain America.
• Alligator - a young outcast hero active in the 1970s. A founding member of the Astro City Irregulars.
• Altar Boy - The Confessor's sidekick. Based on Robin, the Boy Wonder.
• Astra Furst - a young adventurer/hero able to transform into energy and fly. Daughter of Rex and Natalie. A member of the First Family. Based on the Human Torch.
• Astro-Naut - a hero of the 1940s, active in World War II.
• Atomicus - Nuclear-powered being from another world who was active in the 1960s. Based on Captain Atom.
• Augustus Furst – a scientist/adventurer active from the 1950s through the present. Brother of Julius Furst and adoptive father of Nick and Natalie. Leader of the First Family. Based on Mr. Fantastic; he also bears a pronounced resemblance to Will Magnus of the Metal Men. It has since been revealed that he is based on actor Henry Fonda.[1]
• Beautie - A powerful living mannequin resembling a life-sized Barbie doll. A current member of Honor Guard. Based on the Vision, the Red Tornado, and perhaps Brother Power the Geek!
• The Black Badge - an urban hero of the 1960s and early 1970s, who in retirement owns and runs the bar Bruiser's. Based on Luke Cage, Powerman
• The Black Rapier - A detective hero who wields a sword and wears a modified fencing outfit. Current leader of Honor Guard. Based on The Cavalier, Batman, Blue Beetle and other gimmick heroes.
• Blue Knight - Skull-faced mythical vigilante who executes criminals. Active since the 1970s. Based on the such vengeange-driven heroes as Spectre, the Vigilante, the Punisher and Wild Dog.
• The Bouncing Beatnik - acrobatic hero of the 1950s and 1960s. An early ally of Honor Guard. Based on various characters created by Steve Ditko.
• Commando K - a hero of the 1940s and 1950s, believed lost near Pyongyang during the Korean War. Possibly based on Commando D.
• Bravo - former sidekick of El Hombre, active in the 1970s, who went on to found the Astro City Irregulars after his patron's disgrace. Currently a police officer, inactive as a vigilante. Based on Robin, the Boy Wonder.
• The Confessor - A mysterious vigilante with a dark secret. Based on Batman.
• Cleopatra - Magical heroine whose primary weapon is a mystical staff. The name and staff have been borne by two women in succession, the second of whom is also super-strong. The first Cleopatra was a founding member of Honor Guard; the current version is also a member.
• Crackerjack - An egocentric and reckless blowhard with amazing agility and a staff weapon. Active since 1991. Based on Daredevil and Blue Beetle, as well as antiheroes such as Guy Gardner and Booster Gold.
• The Crimson Cougar — an actor who plays a superhero on a popular soap opera who attained notoriety by performing actual heroic acts.
• Daniel - a religious hero, leonine in appearance. A member of the Crossbreed.
• David - a giant religious hero. A member of the Crossbreed.
• The Flying Fox — a non-powered crimefighter who uses an aero-cycle for transportation. Based on the Huntress and the Golden Age Black Canary.
• The Frontiersman - a hero of the 1950s who dressed like Davy Crockett in a domino mask, smoked, and appeared in Frontiers cigarette advertisements. Active in 1959. Apparently died of lung cancer. Based on Davy Crockett and the Marlboro Man.
• The Gentleman - A tuxedo-clad and scrupulously polite hero active since the 1940s, super-strong and capable of flight. Based on DC Comics' Captain Marvel. His appearence is based on Fred MacMurray.
• The Hanged Man - A mysterious supernatural entity that floats around with a burlap sack over his face and a noose around his neck. Active since at least the 19th century. Based on Phantom Stranger.
• El Hombre — an urban hero active in the 1960s and 1970s who went bad; reemerged years later as the villainous Conquistador. A member of Honor Guard before his disgrace. Based on Zorro, Batman and ethnic crimefighters such as Like Cage, Powerman.
• The Hummingbird - heroine of the 1970s. A member of Honor Guard. Now inactive. Based on Black Canary.
• Ironhorse, the Human Locomotive - apparently a human-machine hybrid, active in the second half of the 19th century and still extant, though apparently retired. Based on Cyborg.
• Jack-in-the-Box - A bouncy clown themed vigilante with no real powers but a bunch of clown themed weaponry and amazing agility. The role has been taken by three different men, the first active from 1964-1983, when he died, the second, his son Zachary Johnson, active from 1989 through the mid 1990s, and the third, his protegé, active thereafter. Based on Spider-Man.
• Jailbait - a young outcast hero, a flying knife-fighter. A current member of the Astro City Irregulars.
• Joshua - a sonic-powered religious hero. A member of the Crossbreed.
• Juice - a young outcast hero. A current member of the Astro City Irregulars.
• Julius Furst - a scientist/adventurer active from the 1950s through the present. Brother of Augustus Furst. A member of the First Family. Based on Dan Turpin.
• Kitkat - sidekick of Leopardman in the 1960s who could cling to vertical surfaces. A founding member of Honor Guard. Based on Kitten and Robin.
• The Lamplighter - a hero of the 1940s and 1950s who retired in 1959.
• Leopardman - a feline-themed crimefighter of the 1960s, now deceased. A founding member of Honor Guard. Based on Catman and Batman. His former butler now runs Butler's, an exclusive club for crimefighters.
• Mary - an angelic, winged religious hero. A member of the Crossbreed.
• Max O'Millions - a size-changing hero of the 1950s and 1960s who wore a domino mask and red tuxedo. Founder of the superhero team Honor Guard. Based on Giant-Man and the Atom.
• Mermaid - an aquatic heroine of the 1970s. A member of Honor Guard. Currently inactive. Based on Aquaman and Sub-Mariner.
• Mirage - a hero of the 1970s with a neon-themed costume. A member of Honor Guard. Currently inactive.
• Mordecai Chalk — a cyborg whose missing body parts were destroyed by occult creatures. A professional monster hunter. Based on Cyborg
• MPH - Superhero with the power to run at high speeds. Apparently 15% alien. A current member of Honor Guard. Based on the Flash.
• Natalia Furst (Natalie) - an adventurer/hero with energy powers that allow her to shift in size. Natural daughter of Prince Kaspian of the Beastmen, adoptive daughter of Augustus Furst and twin sister of Nikolai Furst. A member of the First Family. Based on the Scarlet Witch and Elastigirl.
• The N-Forcer - A corporately sponsored bearer of hi-tech armor. Apparently a number of people in succession have assumed the role. The original N-Forcer was a founding member of Honor Guard; the current version is also a member. Based on Iron Man.
• Nightingale and Sunbird - Duo of female vigilantes, one dark and moody and the other sunny and happy. The names derive from Nightwing and Flamebird. Also based on Batman and Robin and Hawk and Dove
• Nikolai Furst (Nick) - an adventurer/hero with projective energy powers. Natural son of Prince Kaspian of the Beastmen, adoptive son of Augustus Furst and twin brother of Natalie Furst. A member of the First Family. Based on Quicksilver and the Iceman.
• Noah - a storm-casting religious hero. A member of the Crossbreed.
• The Old Soldier — a symbolic, legendary figure clad in martial attire of many eras who manifests in wartime, including 1863, 1898, 1918, 1944, 1959, and 1975. Based on Uncle Sam, Captain America and other patrotic heroes.
• Orphan - a young outcast hero active in the 1970s. A founding member of the Astro City Irregulars.
• Palmetto - a young outcast hero, insectoid in form. Better known as Roach, a nickname he hates. A current member of the Astro City Irregulars.
• Peter - a rock-shaping religious hero. A member of the Crossbreed.
• Quark - former sidekick to Starfighter, now inactive.
• Quarrel - Daughter of a supervillain of the same name, she is a sharp-shooting archer with trick arrows and a dry sense of humor. A current member of Honor Guard. Based on Green Arrow, Hawkeye and Huntress.
• Rex - an adventurer/hero, super-strong and dinosaurian in form. Son of the villainess Madam Majestrix and husband of Natalie Furst. A member of the First Family. Based on the Thing.
• El Robo - a young outcast hero, a human-machine hybrid. A current member of the Astro City Irregulars. Based on Cyborg.
• Ruby - a young outcast hero, a living jewel. A current member of the Astro City Irregulars.
• Samaritan - An extremely powerful hero who travelled from the future to make the world a better place. Appeared in this era in 1985; active as a hero since 1986. A current member of Honor Guard. Is sometimes referred to as "Big Red", a homage to "Big Blue" and "The Big Red Cheese". Based on Superman.
• Silver Agent - An armored vigilante active from 1956 through the early 1970s. A founding member of Honor Guard. Now deceased. Connected with some mysterious event in the seventies that caused super-heroes to go largely mistrusted for a long while. Based on Captain America.
• Skitter - a young outcast hero active in the 1970s. A founding member of the Astro City Irregulars.
• Slugger, the Junior Dynamo - sidekick of the All-American in the 1940s, who wore modified baseball gear and used a bat as a weapon. Based on Bucky and Tim of the Terror Twins.
• Starfighter - a cosmic hero of the 1970s. A member of Honor Guard. Currently inactive. Based on Adam Warlock and Marvel Comics' Captain Marvel.
• Starwoman - a heroine of the 1960s from outer space who had energy powers. A founding member of Honor Guard. Currently inactive. Based on Starfire and Halo.
• Stray - a young outcast hero. A current member of the Astro City Irregulars.
• Street Angel - urban hero formerly associated with Quarrel. Possibly deceased.
• Switchblade - a young outcast hero active in the 1970s. A founding member of the Astro City Irregulars.
• Umbra - a young outcast hero active in the 1970s. A founding member of the Astro City Irregulars.
• Winged Victory - A feminist, Greco-Roman themed superhero. Based on Wonder Woman and Hawkgirl.

Villains

• Boilermaker - villain cited as a suitable sparring partner for the Confessor.
• The Brass Monkey - a living metallic simian statue with a human mind.
• Bridwell - Enelsian spy gathering intelligence on Earth's heroes; enamored of humanity's better instincts, but ultimately disgusted by mankind's baser ones. Name and appearance based on E. Nelson Bridwell.
• The Conquerlord - a would-be world-ruler who attacked the U.N. and was defeated by Honor Guard.
• The Conquistador - see El Hombre, under Heroes.
• Cutlass - a pirate-themed villainess active in the 1970s and a former member of the Terrifying Three.
• The Deacon - Head of the crime families of Astro City; despite years of investigation, has never been convicted of any crime. The Deacon is possibly a retcon of the public domain supervillain of the same name, a former arch-enemy of Cat-Man.
• Demolitia - Large supervillain who wields a wrecking ball to commit her crimes and leads a group called the Unholy Alliance.
• Dr. Saturday - Villain who uses toys based on Saturday morning cartoons to commit his crimes. Based on Toyman.
• Eisenstein ("Eyes") - a small-time crook who discovers Jack-in-the-Box's secret identity.
• The Enelsians - A matriarchal alien race bent on invading Earth, with Astro City as their primary point. They managed to discredit several heroes, but were defeated when the Confessor sacrificed his life to expose their plan. Based on the Skrulls.
• Ersatz Ed - a villain defeated by the Astro-Naut in 1943.
• Fever - a villain who targets women.
• Flame-thrower - a pyromaniac villain. A member of the Unholy Alliance. Possibly based on Heatwave.
• Foxy Loxy - Gun-toting thug and head of the Menagerie Gang. Based on Reynard.
• Glowworm - a glowing villain with energy-projecting powers and a long, eel-like tail in place of his lower body. A member of the Unholy Alliance.
• Gnomicron - a mystically powered mechanical warrior created by the Mountain Gnomes.
• Goldenboy - a pretty-boy villain with metallic golden skin and hair who targets women; he leads a cult who worships him as a god-king. Based on Brother Blood and Ras Al Ghul.
• Goldenglove - a deceased criminal with a boxing motif, who utilized a pair of alien power-gloves. His daughter has taken over the name and the gloves but it is unclear whether she will end up as a villain or a hero.
• The Human Weasel - a short, wiry villain with weasel-like physical characteristics.
• The Junkman — an aged villain seeking vengeance on society for age descrimination. Recycles and enhances his weaponry from discarded trash. Based on Gizmo.
• Karnus - cult leader and devotee of Shirak the Devourer, active in 1959.
• Kaspian - Prince of the Beastmen of Eastern Europe and natural father of the heroes Nick and Natalie Furst. Based on the Sub-Mariner, Magneto, and perhaps Wolverine.
• The Living Nightmare - Monstrous creature composed of peoples' subconscious fears made real, the Nightmare has been both hero and villain at times, and is currently a mindless, random force of nature destroying everything in its path. Based on The Incredible Hulk.
• Madame Majestrix - villainous ruler of the undersea Monstro City and mother of the heroic Rex of the First Family. Based in part on the Sub-Mariner.
• The Middleman - a smuggler and gunrunner specializing in acquiring the weaponry of defeated villains and fencing them to other villains.
• The Mock Turtle — an English armored villain who took his name from a character from Alice in Wonderland. Now deceased.
• Quarrel - a villain, father of the superhero of the same name, he was a sharp-shooting archer with trick arrows. A former member of the Terrifying Three. Now deceased. Possibly based on Alias the Spider and Kraven the Hunter.
• Shirak the Devourer - a shark-like demon from another dimension that attempted to invade the Earth in 1959 and 1964. He was stopped in one of the first (and rather odd) missions of the newly-formed Honor Guard.
• Slamburger - a bulky, powerful villain with mottled red skin and hot, sulfurous breath. A member of the Unholy Alliance. Possibly based on the the Thing and the Sandman.
• Spice - a whip-wielding, dominatrix-type villainess, formerly partners with Sugar. A member of the Unholy Alliance.
• Steel Devil - a robotic thief wielding a trident that fires energy blasts.
• Sugar - a villainess who formerly partnered with Spice. Now deceased.
• The Time-keeper - a time-stopping villain from the 1940s who nearly destroyed time itself in an attempt to remove the world of superheroes.
• Wotan - an ax-wielding giant capable of flight, clad like an ancient Norseman. The name is conjectured by the prominant "W" symbols at the top of his boots.
• The Xenoform - a huge, homicidal, shape-shifting alien entity, currently confined.

Teams

• The Astro City Irregulars - a group of outcast heroes founded by Bravo; its original roster also included Umbra, Skitter, Alligator, Switchblade and Orphan. The current roster consists of Juice, Ruby, Palmetto, Jailbait, El Robo and Stray. Based on the X-Men, the Teen Titans and the Outsiders.
• The Barnstormers - a group of villains fought by Air Ace in the post-World War I era.
• The Blackout Bandits - a gang of villains defeated by the All-American and Slugger in 1943.
• The Crossbreed - a group of pariah religious heroes, consisting of Noah, Daniel, Peter, Mary, David and Joshua. Stigmatized by society as "Jesus Freaks." Possibly based in part on the X-Men and the Doom Patrol.
• The Disastroids - a group of villains, opponents of the First Family.
• The Experimentals - a hero group active in the 1970s.
• The First Family - A family of interdimensional explorers and superheroes consisting of brothers Augustus and Julius Furst, Augustus' adopted children Nick and Natalie, Natalie's husband Rex, and their daughter Astra. Based on the Fantastic Four and the Challengers of the Unknown.
• Honor Guard - the most prestigious grouping of superheroes. Founded by Max O'Millions; its original roster also included the Silver Agent, Starwoman, Leopardman and Kitkat, the first N-Forcer, and the first Cleopatra. The current roster consists of the Black Rapier, Samaritan, the present Cleopatra and N-Forcer, MPH, Beautie and Quarrel. Other heroes who have been members in the past are Mermaid, Mirage, Hummingbird, Starfighter, and the more usually villainous Living Nightmare. Based on the Justice Society of America, the Justice League of America and the Avengers.
• Iron Horde - a group of villains defeated in the recent past and now apparently inactive.
• The Legions of Midnight - a group of villains defeated by Honor Guard during their first case in 1959.
• The Menagerie Gang - a band of non-powered, gun-toting thugs who wear animal masks. Based on the False Face Society.
• PYRAMID - an international conspircy seeking world domination, active for decades if not centuries. Based on HYDRA and A.I.M..
• Ravagers - also known as the Shark Men, acolytes of Karnus' Shirak cult in 1959, transformed into shark men by Shirak.
• The Techsperts - a group of villains who facilitate their robberies with high technology.
• Tempus Fugitives - a gang assembled by the Time-Keeper, active in 1943.
• The Terrifying Three - a group of villains active in the 1970s, whose members included Steeljack, the first Quarrel, and Cutlass. Steeljack reformed after twenty years in prison, Quarrel died, and the fate of Cutlass is unknown. Based on the Frightful Four.
• The Unholy Alliance - a group of villans led by Demolitia. Current members include Flame-thrower, Glowworm, Slamburger and Spice; apparently other villains have also been members in the past. Based on the Legion of Doom.

Civilians

• Darcy Conroy - a former district attorney, now a partner in one of Astro City's law firms; known for a tough attitude. The fiancé of Nick Furst.
• Tamra Dixon - Anchorwoman of Channel 3's Morning News, married to toymaker and entrepreneur Zachary Johnson (aka Jack-in-the-Box). Based on Mary Jane Watson and Lois Lane.
• Jedson Godfrey - former butler for Anders van Rupert (aka Leopardman), upon Van Rupert's death, Godfrey inherited the place that would eventually become Butler's. Based on Alfred Pennyworth.
• Looney Leo - A cartoon lion brought to life in the 1940s, he was briefly the Gentleman's sidekick, then a media star, a homeless bum, a supervillain's pawn and a recluse before becoming part owner and host of a nostalgic nightclub bearing his name in the entertainment district. Based on Tawky Tawny.
• Marta - a resident of Shadow Hill who works in the City Center.
• Elliot Mills - the editor of the Astro City Rocket.
• Dr. Prochnow - apparently the psychologist who accidentally created the Living Nightmare.
• Michael Tenicek - an ordinary man whose wife was lost to reality due to a time-storm.
• Steeljack - A former supervillain and member of the villain group the Terrifying Three who attempts to reform after serving his time. Tapped by former associates as a private investigator to solve a string of murders in the supervillain community. Consciously modeled after Robert Mitchum.

Others

• Eterneon - Lord and watcher of the timestream, fought Timekeeper to prevent the destruction of time itself. In an earlier event, fought Samaritan while the latter was on a time-travelling mission.
• Mountain Gnomes - also known as the Gnomes, an intelligent race of magical little people who share the Earth with humanity.
• Night Creatures - endemic menaces in Shadow Hill; a part of the environment.
• Scavenger Peoples - non-human intelligent races living beneath the Earth. Based on the Mole Men.
• Teusz - a benevolent deity whose sigil is used as a protective symbol in Shadow Hill.
• The Tourist - an "extraterrestrial gadabout" somehow connected with Beautie, regarded by Samaritan as an intollerable pest. Apparently not a villain, but definitely trouble. Possibly based on Mr. Mxyzptlk, Bat-Mite, and similar trickster figures.
• Vampires - endemic menaces in Shadow Hill, stated by a resident to not be as bad as reputed (though Shadow Hill residents still draw back in fear when confronted by one).

The City

Originally called Romeyn Falls (until its rebuilding and renaming, post-World War II). The bulk of the city is contained between the Wildenberg and Gaines rivers, which define its west and east edges, respectively, and merge to form a single course to the south, in which lies Biro Island, a prison. Mount Kirby hems it in on the north.

Astro City is made up of numerous neighborhoods, which include the rebuilt City Center, based on Binderbeck Plaza, Old Town, Chesler (also known as "The Sweatshop"), Shadow Hill, Bakerville, Derbyfield, Museum Row/Centennial Park, Iger Square, Kiefer Square, Kanewood, Fass Gardens, and Patterson Heights.

Notable locations in Astro City are the Astrobank Tower, home of the Astro City Beacon, the city's warning beacon; the tower also has a statue of Air Ace in front. Other locations include fast food chain Beefy Bob's; Grandetti Cathedral, home to the Astro City archdiocese; Bruiser's, a bar catering to heroes; Butler's, a private club for the superhero set; and Fox-Broome University, known for its advanced biolabs.

Most of Astro City's physical features, neighborhoods, streets and businesses are named for past individuals associated with the comic book industry, and hence constitute to some degree an elaborate in-joke.

Location

Astro City has been stated to be a city in the western United States, presumably west of the Mississippi River due to the "K-designations" of two stations (KBAC, KACT). Since it is portrayed as an inland city at the juncture of two major rivers, a location in the Mississippi/Missouri watershed, or possibly either the Columbia or Sacramento river basins might be implied, depending on how far west Astro City is. An outlying suburb to the city's west, called Goldwater Heights might imply an Arizona locale, though there are no other indications of it being a desert metropolis.

References within the series to other cities demonstrate that Astro City is not intended to occupy the place of Anchorage, San Francisco, Palo Alto, Denver, Leavenworth, or the Quad Cities; most of these also lack anything approaching the requisite geography. All of Iowa is effectively ruled out as a location by a reference to it by a Character in Astro City as if it is a different state. The Midwest in general, on the other hand, is highly likely as a location; in another story, in which the floating Honor Guard headquarters is said to be temporarily positioned over that region, the members of that hero group travel directly from their base to Astro City in response to a bank robbery.

Real World Analogs

As of recent, Busiek has not given any information as to what analog Astro City has in the real world or if it actually has one. As a western city, it shares some similarities to actual western cities such as San Francisco and Los Angeles, California, yet also has echoes of cities in Texas such as San Antonio and Houston. It also has features recalling American riverfront cities such as Saint Louis, Missouri. Series artist Anderson has used photo references from as far afield as New York City in creating the physical look of the Astro City, and Busiek also implies such a connection, by noting that the City Center started out as the "Dutch" section of town. An early published draft of the Astro City map shows that certain aspects of its layout were in fact consciously modeled on New York. Similarites to Boston are also prevelent (an early story references a real article from a Boston newspaper, rewritten with an Astro City byline), which is not suprising given that Kurt Busiek lived there for some years.

Collected editions

• Astro City: Life in the Big City (ISBN 156389551X, collects Astro City Vol. 1 #1-6)
• Astro City: Confession (ISBN 1563895501, collects Astro City Vol. 2 #1/2, 4-9)
• Astro City: Family Album (ISBN 1563895528, collects Astro City Vol. 2 #1-3, 10-13)
• Astro City: Tarnished Angel (ISBN 156389663X, collects Astro City Vol. 2 #14-20)
• Astro City: Local Heroes (ISBN 1401202810, collects Astro City: Local Heroes #1-5, Astro City Special: Supersonic, "After the Fire")

External links

• The Astro City Rocket - the official Astro City website